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Copy 1 






mACOH couhty, 

Ilorth Carolina. 



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Nertt]. Gareliria. 

BY 

HENRY STEWART, JR. 

Secretary <>f The 

BL^E RIDGE AGENCY. 



Entered according to act of Congress, in 
the year 1902, by Henry Stewart, Jr., 
in the office of the Librarian of Con* 
gress, at Washington. 



HISHMMBS. 

Blue Ridge Ass'n Press. 



THE l;^...ary or 

CONGRESS, 

Two Copies RECSivEo 

m, tJ 1902 

C CLASS COYY-.o. l^ 
COPY B. 







j^acon County, North Carolina, is 
situated among the extreme west- 
ern counties of the state; its sou- 
thern boundary being the state line be- 
tween Georgia and North Carolina, 
which is the thirty fifth degree of north 
latitude. 

Like the adjoining counties of Jack- 
son, Swain, Cherokee and Clay, it is 
sparsely settled in its mountain parts. 
The principal valleys being settled 
much longer than the mountains, they 
are of course much more populous. 
The county embraces an area of 301,270, 
acres. 

The Blue Ridge chain of mountains 
entering the county from the east, stret- 
ches along a course slightly diagonal to 
the county line, at a distance of seven 
miles from the south line at its entry and 
extends westward, running in part with 
the southern boundary of the county to 
its western extremity. 
This range here assumes bold and pre- 
cipitous forms, the spurs and peaks of 
which, Whitesides, Black Rock, Fodder 
Stack, Satulah, Brushy Face, Scaleyand 
others, breaking down toward the south 
and west in precipitous and almost per- 
pendicular faces of heights varying from 
1,000, to 1,800, feet. The peaks and 



spurs having an altitude of from 4,000, 
to 5,060, feet above sea level. 

The eastern half of the county rises 
rapidly from the state line, at an altitude 
of perhaps 2,600, feet to an average 
elevation of about 3,000, feet above sea 
level, in the plateau country north of 
the ridge. 

The county is traversed, at its western 
extremity, by the majestic Nantahalah 
range of mountains, which are 2:)roject- 
ed northward from the Blue Ridge and 
have an average altitude of 5,000, feet, 
being the highest range in the county. 

West of this range and bounded on 
the west by the Valley River range, lies 
a fine valley extending northward across 
the county, through which flows the 
picturesque Nantahalah river. 

East of the Nantahalah range, lies 
the valley of the Tennessee, the prin- 
cipal valley of the county, which ex- 
tends northward for its entire breadth 
and is traversed by the largest stream 
of the section, the Tennessee river, a 
tributary of the great Tennessee, rising 
at the southern extreme of the county 
near the Rabun Gap and state line, at 
an altitude of 2,168, feet. 
It flows northward through the valley, 
on a descending grade not exceeding at 



its greatest fifty feet to the mile. 

This plain is broad, gently rolling 
and fertile and into it debouch the prin- 
cipal valleys and streams of the eastern 
half of the county. It is here that the 
most fertile farming lands of the coun- 
ty are to be found and the most popu- 
lous districts are situated. 
Here also are located the oldest settle- 
ments of the west, several of which 
having been established for eighty or 
ninety years. 

Here also, in the midst of the county, 
upon an elevation on the west bank of 
the river, in a most charming and de- 
lightful portion of the valley, is situated 
Franklin, the county seat, surrounded 
by a very beautiful and fertile farm- 
ing region. This valley is filled with 
small elevations, giving to it a gently 
rolling and diversified appearance, pres- 
enting to the eye a delightful panorama 
when viewed from the overtowering 
mountain peaks which mark its limits. 
It has an average elevation of perhaps 
2,000, feet. 

The eastern half or the Blue Ridge 
portion of the county, consists of an 
elevated, undulating, mountain plateau, 
rising from 2,600, to 4,000, feet above 
sea level. This plateau is broken by cross 



ranges, laterals of the Blue Ridge and 
in several instances by ranges parallel 
to the Ridge, the principal ones being 
the Cowee system on the north and the 
Fish Hawk near the mid portion of the 
section. This plateau is further broken 
by several narrow winding valleys such 
as, Tessenta, Sugar Fork and Ellijay 
valleys, running westerly through the 
plateau of Highlands and debouching 
in the greater valley of the Tennessee, 
having in the instance of the Sugar Fork 
orCuUasaja valley a length of about 30 
miles, beginning at an altitude of 4, 000, 
feet descending in this distance to about 
2,000, feet. Through this valley flows 
one of the most picturesque streams in 
Western North Carolina, formerly call- 
ed the Sweetwater or Sugar Fork of 
the Tennessee river, latterly by the 
Cherokee name CuUasaja. 

To the eastern plateau section of the 
county we will now direct our attention 
for it is here in this elevated zone that 
we find present to the greatest extent 
those conditions which make it such a 
very desirable section in which to follow 
out the pursuits of the herdsman, dairy- 
ma ii and horticulturist. 

In Macon county a larger area of 
open lands, suitable for agricultural 



purposes, is to be found than in any 
other of the extreme western counties. 
Farms are more numerous, population 
greater and soils more generally pro- 
ductive; giving to the county the justly 
earned title of the " Banner County" of 
the west. 

^^M^ighlands, twenty one miles east of 
'^^Franklin, within six miles of the 

^ eastern limit of the county and 
seven north of the state line, the thirty 
fifth degree of north latitude, enjoys 
the notable distinction of being the 
town of highest altitude in the United 
States, east of the Rocky Mountains, 
is next in importance and size to the 
county seat and is the trade center for 
the eastern half of the county and the 
adjacent parts of Georgia and the south- 
ern half of Jackson county, N, C. 

It is located at an altitude of 3,817, 
feet and is of recent establishment, being 
about 20 years old. It was established 
by settlers from the north and west. 
The resident population is perhaps 300, 
whilst the summer residents and visitors 
have in the past made a summer popu- 
lation of over 1,000. 

The town is prettily situated in the 
midst of an undulating plateau on the 



thread of the Blue Ridge mountains, 
surrounded by an ampitheatre of hills, 
spurs of the Kidge; which vary in height 
from one to seven hundred feet above 
the general level of the town site. 

The boundaries embrace an area of 
one and a half miles square or 1,440, 
acres, which includes gently rolling 
lands, ridges and elevations, varying 
in height from i35, to 75, feet above the 
general level of the central part of the 
town, affording a much diversified but 
very suitable area, pre-eminently adapt- 
ed by nature for town purposes. 
The unusual area of the town site affords 
the opportunity, which has been embra- 
ced by the founders, by the laying out 
of the town in an open order, with wide 
streets and ample grounds surrounding 
the desirable building sites, thus adding 
a very admirable feature to the general 
appearance of the town. 
The streets, wide and clean, are well 
graded and drained; the character of 
the soil being such that within an hour 
after a heavy rainfall the walks are firm 
and free from mud. The absence of clay 
soil affords perfect freedom from dis- 
agreeable mud, making the streets pass- 
able at all seasons. The soil of the town 
site is a light, sandy loam, porous, dry 
and free from swampiness, affording 



perfect hygenic conditions. 

The nearby mountain slopes and 
ridges, as also the principal elevations 
within the town site, afford numerous 
springs and rivulets of cold, sparkling 
waters, which issue from the crevices 
and fissures of the granitic rocks of 
which the elevations are composed and 
underlie the town, furnishing an unfail- 
ing source of supply of the softest, 
purest water anywhere to be found. 

The equable, cool summer climate, 
the balmy, exhilarating and invigora- 
ting air of the mountains, freedom from 
malaria, mosquitoes and other noxious 
and annoying pests; varied scenery of 
greatest beauty and interest; mineral 
waters, chalybeate, lithia and sulphur; 
innumerable springs and streams of the 
purest water; surpassing healthfulness 
of country and the great value of its 
climatic influences as remedial and cura- 
tive agents in diseases of the throat and 
lungs, catarrhal and malarial diseases, 
hay fever, asthma, affections of the 
nervous system and other kindred dis- 
orders, all tend to make Highlands one 
of the most desirable of resorts in the 
United States. Highlands is thirty miles 
distant from railroad connection on the 
south and east and is approached in 
either of these directions by good roads 



traversing regions of great interest to 
the tourist. 

'^^his entire plateau region is one of 

fthe most profusely watered sections 
in the United States, hardly a tract 
of land can be found in this district but 
what is watered by at least several 
springs and streams. 
Notwithstanding this profusion of wa- 
ters, yet the singular fact remains that 
not a swamp, lake or pools of stagnant 
water can be found in the region. 

The mountain peaks, with but few 
exceptions, are clothed with soil and 
verdure to their very summits; their 
general contour being gentle, the tops 
presenting smooth rounded outlines, 
occasionly rising into sharp pointed 
peaks, havingbut few precipitous slopes, 
excepting on the southern and south- 
western faces; here some of the most 
most stupendous cliffs and precipices 
east of the Rocky Mountains present 
themselves. From the highest of these, 
scenes of amazing magnitude, surpass, 
ing beauty and grandeur may be wit- 
nessed. Here one may look off from 
elevations of from 4,000, to 5,000, feet 
over broad expanses of lower lying 
mountain chains, valleys and low lands, 
for distances of from forty to seventy 
five miles, or to the limit of unaided 



vision, over territory embracing, parts 
of from three to four states. 
The scene presented being that of a vast, 
billowy, oceanlike, expanse of green and 
azure, extending as far as the eye has 
power to penetrate the blue atmosphere 
or haze which gives rise to the name of 
Blue Ridge, to this grand mountain 
chain. 

Fifty miles to the north one may see, 
extending in a grand panorama of at 
least one hundred miles in extent, the 
magnificent profile of the Unaka or 
Great Smoky range, along the thread 
of which runs the line between North 
Carolina and Tennessee. 
Nature here is found in her happiest 
mood and words, in their poverty, fail 
to express the matchless beauty and 
singular impressiveness of such glorious 
prospects as these. 



<pf|wing to its sparse settlement, the 
^^! eastern half of the county presents, 

^ from these elevations, the appear- 
ance of an unbroken forest, clotted here 
and there with the clearings or "dead- 
ings", which mark the small areas of 
cultivated lands. 

This section is not as heavily timber- 
ed as the lower lying slopes of the Blue 
Ridge and in this respect presents some 
advantages in the thinning out and 
clearing of the forest lands for seeding 
to grass for range purposes. 

Of the woods and timber trees here 
found, the oaks predominate, white, 
black, red, Spanish, water and chestnut 
abound, white and black pine, hemlock 
spruces are found in the mountain val- 
leys and along the streams of the pla- 
teau; the chestnut is another widely 
distributed tree, white and yellow poplar 
and white ash, bass wood, black cherry, 
locust, red and white hickory, gum, 
sourwood, soft maple, birch, cucumber, 
buckeye and smaller growths as, dog- 
wood, service, silver-bell and sassafrass 
comprise the list of forest trees. 
The lower growing shrubs are found 
throughout the country in great abun- 
dance, as also innumerable wild plants 
and numerous grasses, which carpet the 
virgin forests of the section. 



The rocky ravines, cliffs and rough 
mountain faces are clothed with the 
evergreen kalniia, rhododendron and 
leucothop, while in the forest lands the 
dogwoods, sourwoods, silver bells and 
cucumber, the numerous azaleas and 
abundant wild flowers, each in their 
season, blooming from early spring 
until late in the fall all add great beau- 
ty to the forest scenes. 
There are many varieties of wild grass- 
es native to this region, of which some 
are perineal and a few evergreen, 
which grow in the forests and clothe 
the more open land of the mountain 
ridges and slopes with verdure from 
early spring until late fall. 
These grasses and small undergrowth, 
supplemented with the winter growing 
grasses and the usually abur.dant chest- 
nut and oak mast, furnish sustenance 
for cattle, sheep and hogs in many in- 
stances during the entire year and at 
any event for the greater part of the year. 
This capability of the mountain sec- 
tion of North Carolina has been favor- 
ably known to the people of the South 
for years. 

We quote from the writing of General 
Clingman, a noted pioneer of this re- 
gion, on this subject. " Horses and 



horned cattle are usually driven out 
into the mountains about the first of 
April and brought back in November. 
Within six weeks after they have been 
put into the range they become sleek 
and fat. There are however, on top and 
along the sides of the highest moun- 
tains, evergreen and winter grasses on 
which horses and horned cattle live 
well through out the entire winter. Such 
animals are often foaled and reared 
there until fit for market, without ever 
seeing a cultivated plantation." 
To the same point we quote from North 
Carolina and its Resources, a publica- 
issued by the State Board of Agricul- 
ture and therefore authoritative. 
" The entire transmontane country is 
well adapted to stock raising. The cul- 
tivated grasses flourish everywhere with 
even ordinary care." "After two or three 
crops are taken off, the land, if suffer- 
ed to lie at rest, springs up spontan- 
eously in timothy, herds grass and other 
rich pasture grasses; once established 
the grass perpetuates itself. Nor is an 
entire clearing necessary to establish 
the land in grass. If the undergrowth 
is removed, the trees thinned out and 
the surface stirred and sown in orchard 
grass it flourishes luxuriantly even while 



the forest trees are left standing. 
Its capacity as a grazing country has 
long been known. But formerly the 
cattle were left to the resources of na- 
ture, which indeed in such a country 
were abundant and rich." 

From personal observation during 
a number of years and a familiarity 
with the soils of the eastern plateau 
section of Macon county, we can add 
to this very favorable statement, that 
other valuable grasses are indigenous to 
the section; prominent among these are 
the Kentucky and Texan blue grasses, 
and meadow oat grass, which is among 
the most valuable of the native grasses 
for forage, Red top is also a native and 
comes in with white clover whenever 
land is cleaned and opened up and left 
to lie uncropped. The cultivated grass- 
es, such as timothy, low red and sap- 
ling clovers, orchard grass, turnips beets 
rape and in fact all vegetable growths 
which require a cool, moist climate for 
their development, all thrive here. 
While small grains and corn are raised 
here, yet the high altitude and cool 
nights, militate somewhat, against the 
most profitable production of these crops 

The soils of this region vary consid- 
ably with locality, generally speaking, 



tbcy are a light loam; tlie northern 
slopes of the mountains and ridges are 
of a heavier and darker loam, in tlie val- 
leys the soils have an admixture of clay. 
In the more extensive valleys and the 
lower levels of the county, red clav 
soils predominate. 

In the immediate vicinity of Highlands 
the lighter loams prevail, but in the 
course of several miles distance in any 
direction from the town, the soils are 
much heavier, being mixed with clay. 
On these lands from twenty to fifty 
bushels of corn to the acre have been 
raised. From the high elevation, great- 
er amount of rainfall, equable climuto, 
cool summers and character of the soil, 
our mountain plateau lands are pre-em- 
inently adapted to the cultivation of 
grasses, root, forage and other feoding 
crops. In this we excel the lower lying 
portions of the county. 

The extensive areas of wild land, 
never failing supply of pure cold water, 
qualities of soil and climate, freedom 
from ticks and noxious insects and 
poisonous plants, absence of cattle dis- 
eases and a system of range laws, very 
favorable to the herdsman, cause this 
region to be a most desirable one for 
the stockman, dairyman, shepherd and 



farmer. 

These lands being elevated above the 
influence of those germs which are so 
destructive of animal life and the cli- 
matic conditions being so unfavorable 
to the existence of germ life generally, 
this country may be considered as a 
natural sanitarium, the practical advan- 
tage of which will be readily apprecia- 
ted by the stock raiser and shepherd. 
As a safeguard to this region, stringent 
quarantine regulations, prescribed by 
tlie United States and the states of 
Georgia, North Carolina and SouthCar- 
olina, eU'ectually prevent the introduc- 
tion of all contagious cattle diseases. 
The cattle tick cannot exist here, thus 
a prolific source of infection is avoided. 

In the lower lying and more exten- 
sive valleys of the county, farm crops 
are produced abundantly, From fifty 
to seventy bushels of corn have been 
raised on these lands under favorable 
circumstances, such as good season, 
proper fertilization and modern meth- 
ods of cultivation. 

On the other hand, these lands are not 
nearly as well suited to the growth of 
grasses, vegetables and forage crops, 
as the higher lands. 

In this plateau region the orchardist 



will find the conditions most favorable 
to his pursuit. 

At this point it is only just to say, that 
not in every instance are the lands of 
this section adapted to fruit raising. 
This arises, not from the poverty or 
inadaptability of the soils, but from 
the frosts in early spring, which affect 
this section in a very unequal manner. 
The mild open winters have the effect, 
in the least exposed situations and on 
the mountain slopes and coves having 
a direct southern exposure, of advan- 
cing the blossoming time of the trees. 
It is no uncommon thing to see peach 
trees in bloom, in some localities in the 
county, early in March, these blooms 
are ,of course, destroyed by frost. 
In the mountain plateaus, the climate 
being cooler than in the lower valley 
lands, vegetation does not start quite 
so early in the season and notably so 
on the northern, eastern or western 
flanks of the mountains and ridges. 
A feature peculiar to mountain regions, 
which is present to a very marked degree 
in this plateu country, is the thermal, 
warm or no frost belts, as they are 
variously termed, These bodies of warm 
air, wherever they occur, prevent dam- 
age to vegetation by late frosts in the 
spring and the early ones of the fall. 
This phenomena is produced by the culd 



damp and heavier air of the upper strata 
displacing the warm and consequently- 
lighter airs of the valleys and natural 
depressions of the country, causing the 
warmer air to rise and remain at higher 
levels. This condition occurs shortly 
before sunset, continuing through the 
night and until after sunrise. 
The location of these warm belts of 
course varies greatly. The contour of 
the country determining the level in 
in each particular instance. 
The mountain sides, ridges and eleva- 
tions, wherever these belts occur, are 
free from the late and early frosts which 
have destructive effect on lands along 
strtams and in the basins and depress- 
ions of the plateau, leaving the vegeta- 
tion of these thermal zones unharmed. 
This condition continues until the 
freezes of approaching winter occur. 
There is no great regularity or general 
rule in the estaljlishing of these local- 
ities and no general level to be observ- 
ed, local conditions alone governing 
an experience and observation of at 
least one season, is necessary to accu- 
rately deliminate the area of each indi- 
vidual location. When located with 
accuracy however, these zones afford 
the greatest advantage to the fruit cul- 
turist and when coupled with northern 
and western exposures, ensure almost 



unfailing regults from orchards planted 
therein. 

While it is true that fruit bearing trees 
thrive anywhere in the country, yet it 
is only in these especially favored lo- 
calities, where immunity from frost is 
practically had, that the most profit- 
able annual results are obtained. 
This region being sparsely settled, but 
few orcliards were planted until recent 
years, the most of these being of less 
than twenty years planting. Quite re- 
cently however, larger areas have been 
planted, some of which are just com- 
ing into bearing. These new orchards, 
wherever they have been located with 
judgment, are thrifty. Another feature 
of importance in this connection, is the 
existence of a ready market for all the 
fruit of the region, especially apples, 
almost at one's door. 

This country, from its geographical 
position, is within from two to three, 
days time removed from the principal 
cities and towns of the south. The thir- 
ty miles of distance intervening between 
it and the railroad point, counting as 
one day in time of transit. 
To the stock raiser similar market con- 
ditions are afforded for the products of 
the range. The dairyman also shares in 
this favorable market condition and is 
further favored by the abundant range 



and the facility with which forage crops 
can be grown, the temperate seasons 
and the abundant springs, the waters of 
which are sparkling and cold the year 
around. 

The altitude of the most prominent 
mountain peaks of the eastern half of 
the county are, Whitesides, in the Blue 
Ridge chain, 5,060, feet, breaking down 
to the south in precipices of from 1,000, 
to 1,800, feet in depth. In the Cowee 
chain, Shortoff, 5,089 and Yellow 
mountain, the highest peak in the east- 
ern half of of the county, 5,133. 
'Satulah, the peak of which is but three 
quarters of a mile distant from High- 
hinds, its northern slopes being inclu- 
ded within the corporate limits of the 
town, above which it towers to an al- 
titude of about 700, feet and to 4,500, 
feet above sea level. Dog Mountain, 
4,450. Scaley, 4,835. Fish Hawk bald, 
the highest of this range, 4,749. 
The highest altitudes in the county are 
found in its western part. In the ^an- 
tahalah range are Pickens' Nose, 4,926. 
Albert Mountain, 5,2 54. Cartoogajay 
5,064. Wayah Bald, 5,494. Toketah, 
5,372. Hocky Bald, 5,323. The Blue 
Ridge at Rabun Gap near the western 
extreme of the county, has an elevation 
of 2,168, feet. 



f'he native population of the county 
is very orderly and law abiding 
and are hospitable to a marked de- 
ree, entertaining no prejudices, polit- 
ical or otherwise, toward settlers from 
other states. 

In this county the negro element is 
numerically so small, that it is hardly 
worthy of consideration from either a 
social or political stand point, hence 
the racial questions which obtain else- 
where in the South, do not aifect this 
mountain region. 

The rate of taxation for State and 
County purposes is reasonably low, tak. 
ing into consideration the nature and 
extent of public improvements in the 
county. 

In all the country settlements schools 
supported by County and State funds 
are held and in the towns, both town and 
township terms are held, aggregating 
in these localities about eight months 
school annually. Private schools are 
also held in the towns. 

Many religious denominations are 
represented, most prominent among 
these are the Baptist, Methodist, Epis- 
copal and Presbyterian. 

Macon county recently voted a coun- 
ty bond issue of $ 60,000, for railroad 
purposes; the bonds to be issued ouly 



upon the completion and operation of 
a railroad through the Tennessee val- 
ley to Franklin, the county seat. 
Inducements of a similar nature having 
been offered by several counties in the 
neighboring state of Georgia. This 
coupled with the prospective freight 
traffic of the region has induced the 
formation of a company for the exten- 
sion of the Tallulah Falls Ry, from 
Tallulah Falls Georgia, the present ter- 
minal of that road, northward forty 
miles through the Tennessee valley to 
Franklin. Work is now in progress on 
this extension and the road will, in all 
probability, be completed in 1903. 
This road connects with the main line 
of the Southern Ry at Cornelia, Ga. 
This road was originally projected to 
run through Knoxville, Tennessee, 
there connecting with the western trunk 
lines. There is but little doubt that this 
will be accomplished in the near future. 

When completed to Franklin, this 
road will place Highlands within 17 
miles of railroad. 

On the east Highlands is approached 
by a spur of the Southern Ry, the Tran- 
sylvania Ry, which has been completed 
to Toxaway, thirty miles distant. 

Toxaway is a new health and pleas. 



lire resort, establislied several years 
ago by northern capitalists, in the heart 
of the Blue Ridge mountains. It is char- 
mingly situated in the midst of a beau- 
tiful and picturesque section. A large 
area of mountain and valley lands are 
here laid out and improved, forming a 
very attractive health and pleasure res- 
ort, as well as a hunting and fishing 
preserve. There are here several finely 
appointed hotels, which with the accom- 
panying high class boarding houses, 
afford to the tourist the comforts of 
the best city hostelries. 
It is among the finest and best equiped 
of our mountain health and summer res- 
orts. A well graded turnpike road, 
winding through a delightful and roman- 
tic section of the Blue Ridge mountains 
for a distance of thirty miles westward, 
connects Highlands with this place. 



c^he following averages of annual 
x^' mean temperatures for the State 
^ have been established from the re- 
cords of the U, S, Weather Bureau, 
extending over a period of thirty years. 

For the State at large, 59 degrees F. 
The mountain region; spring 56, sum- 
mer 72, autumn 56, winter 40. 
The annual mean for Highlands is, 50. 

For a corresponding period of time, 
the average precipitation in the moun- 
tain region is, spring 13,69, inches, 
summer 14,95, autumn 10,61, winter 
14,07; for the year 53,32 inches, all, in- 
cluding the snows of winter, being meas- 
ured as rainfall. 

I'he precipitation for Highlands and 
the plateau region of the county, lying 
northward of and just beyond the crest 
of the Blue Ridge, reaches the greater 
mean of 76,29 inches. To this circum- 
stance is to be attributed the bountiful 
supply of water in this plateau region 
and the peculiar fitness of the section 
for the growth of grasses, vegetables, 
and forage crops generally. 

The mildness of the climate and uni- 
formity of temperature is due to the 
low degree of latitude, 35 and high 
elevation; cool in summer because of 



elevation and mild in winter by reason 
of its Boutliern lalitude and the warm 
air currents which flow from the Gulf 
of Mexico and contribute to the mild- 
ness of the season. The pure, cool, bal- 
my and invigorating air of the moun- 
tains, the extreme purity of the waters, 
elevation above the zone of germ laden 
miasmatic airs, partial rarefication of 
the air by high altitude, the surpassing 
beauty and attractiveness of natural 
surroundings, immunity from torna- 
does and destructive storms, all unite 
to make this plateau region the peer of 
any other section of the United States 
as a resort. 



^^rom the manufacturing point of 
'^^ view, the abounding streams of the 
^' region which afford numbers of the 
finest Vv^ater powers, coupled with the 
quantity, quality and proximity thereto 
of valuable timbers and ornamental 
woods, afford excellent opportunities 
for the establishment of profitable man- 
ufacturing industries. The advent of 
the railroad is all that is now lacking 
to open this country to the manufact- 
urer. Day by day this approaches near- 
er this very promising field. 

Our oak, hickory, white ash, bass- 
wood and other hardwoods, invite the 
attention of the carriage maker, wagon 
builder, handle trade and all those who 
re juire an abundance of tough, fine grain- 
ed woods, of great strength and elastic- 
ity. The yellow locust furnishes mater- 
ial for telegraph brackets and pins and 
with the white oak the treenails so ex- 
tensively used in ship building. The 
abundant laurel and rhododendron roots 
for veneers, pipes and ornamental turn- 
ed work; the dogwoods for shuttle 
blocks, piano keys and all other work, 
where a hard fine grained wood is re- 
quired. Pine and hemlock spruces, pop- 
lar and other woods for general purpoa- 



es and especially when coupled as they 
are with am[>le water power in close 
proximity, the business of paper pulp 
making is suggestive of large profit. 
The cherry, birch and other ornamen. 
tal hard woods, afford opportunities 
for the carpenter, cabinet maker and 
turner. 

As previously stated, the advent of 
the railroad opens up this section, with 
its wealth of raw material to the man- 
ufacturer. There is not an acre of land 
in our mountains but what has a doub- 
le value to the investor, one for the 
timbers, which in most instances is 
double or treble the present value for 
farm or range and the other its value 
for farm and range purposes. 

There is no time like the present for 
investments in this section. Lands will 
never be loAver in price than they now 
are. The completion of the railroad will 
inevitably result in advancing the valua- 
tirn of nil classes of property in this 
seciion. 



ip^j^alhalla, in Oconee county, South 
7^^ Carolina, is the most convenient 

^ railroad point from which to ap- 
proach Highlands. The intervening 
thirty miles of the journey being com- 
pleted in hacks and stages, which run 
daily to and from the railroad during 
the season. 

Visitors from the northern and mid- 
dle states, should come by way of Wash- 
ington, D, C via the Southern Ry, to 
Seneca City and Walhalla, S, C, from 
there by stage to Highlands. 
Those from the west and northwest, 
should come by way of Atlanta, Ga, to 
Walhalla. 

Those desiring to approach Highlands 
through the mountains, can come by 
way of Knoxville, Tenn, through Ashe 
ville, ]S , C, to Henderson ville and Tox- 
away, the present terminal of the Tran- 
sylvania Ry, from here by conveyance 
thirty miles, over a new turnpike road, 
passing through one of the most pict- 
uresque portions of the Blue Ridge 
mountains, to Highlands. 



^<j®\ ur Agency has for sale range, farm, 
%v; and timber lands, town properties, 
^' water powers &c and has for rent, 
farms, range lands and town properties. 
We also make a specialty of the care 
and management of the properties of 
non residents and the careful selection 
of lands for orchard purposes. 

We do not publish a general land 
list. The various properties we offer 
are classiiied according to tiie purpose 
to which they are best adapted, hence 
it will be necessary for our correspond- 
ents to advise us of the particular class 
of property they may be seeking to pur- 
chase, in order that we may be able to 
present to them lists of suitable prop- 
erties. We invite correspondence regard- 
ing our country, people, lands and all 
other information that we may be able 
to give, guaranteeing to present no 
overdrawn pictures and to give the ex- 
act facts, in each instance, to our clients. 
Parties desiring to purchase or rent 
town or villa properties in Highlands, 
for summer or winter occupation should 
write us for another of our publications 
entitled, "Highlands and Vicinity". 

BLUE EIDGE AGENCY. 
Box 201, Highlands. Macon Co. N. C. 



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